This Mustang barn find looks like a basket case…but there’s hope

There isn’t much left of this 1965 Ford Mustang convertible. It was recently picked up from a barn (or possibly a chicken coop) in Texas, has a body and four wheels, and that’s about it. There are some original parts scattered around the building, including individual engine components such as pistons and the carburettor, which are piled up on the dirt floor. It is doubtful that any of these are usable at this point.

Honestly, the car in this recent YouTube video from Barn finds and classics in the heart of Texas is a basket case. Aside from the engine parts, in the back of the barn are some interior parts, a driveshaft, hubcaps, brake drums and possibly a door panel. Another hubcap lies in the tattered remains of the black convertible top. The interior is completely gutted except for the dashboard and no parts of it can be found in the truck. There’s no trunk – the floor is part of the 1965 Mustang’s gas tank, and that’s gone too.

The engine compartment is just as empty as the interior. It’s not exactly clear what used to be under the hood. The seller mentions an inline-six, which was the base engine in 1965. However, the stack of parts has two valve covers, which suggests a V-8. There is a shift lever for an automatic transmission, but its whereabouts are also unknown.

However, if you want to recreate a classic car that’s missing most of the original parts, you can’t do much better than an old Mustang. There are replacement parts for almost everything, including complete body assemblies. Luckily, that’s one thing this pony car doesn’t need. Apart from a few small rust spots, it looks like a solid car. This means it is a great candidate for restoration.

And if you’re a Mustang fan, you’ll notice another bright spot about this particular car: It still sports its original Poppy Red color. CJ Pony Parts reported that 22,401 examples were built in 1965. However, it looked more orange than red, making it a real standout in the classic Mustang world. And with a total of nearly 560,000 Mustangs built this year, it’s not exactly common to find the “orange” Mustang.

This poor pony has spent the last 26 years in this tiny open-walled shed and hasn’t been driven on the road since 1979. We hope the new owner can put the pieces back together so this orange Mustang can live again.